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Kaizer Chiefs attacker Lebogang Manyama has bagged the Goal of the Month award for the month of February/March, the PSL and the club announced on Monday.   

The goal that earned Manyama the individual gong came on February 29 against archrivals Orlando Pirates. 

The lanky attacker was given acres of space from the deep and fired past Wayne Sandilands from outside the box. 

What makes this special is that Manyama took a shot with at least five Pirates defenders in front of him. 

Manyama's latest achievement is certainly a confirmation that he has been one of the best players in the league this season.  

The 29-year-old has scored seven goals and recorded nine assists for the Glamour Boys so far this term.

Meanwhile, Maritzburg United midfielder Daylon Claasen has scooped the Player of the Month for the same period. 

Claasen, a pillar in that Team of Choice midfield, was instrumental in his team's rise to the top five during the months of February and March.

Despite being a midfielder, the former Bafana Bafana player showed enough maturity and composure in front of goal as he netted three goals in four of his team's final matches before the season was suspended.

His brace against Amakhosi was enough for the Team of Choice to continue their dominance over Ernst Middendorp's team thus far. 

His coach, Eric Tinkler won the Coach of the Month award for February/March after guiding Maritzburg United to four straight wins before the lockdown.

During that time, Tinkler's men only conceded once, against Chiefs, and scored seven goals to lift the Team of Choice up to fifth on the PSL standings.

They are nine points behind log leaders Chiefs but have played two games more than the Naturena-based outfit.  

But Tinkler has maintained that his side isn't dreaming about winning the league title just yet as Maritzburg United are behind the chasing pack.

Former AC Milan CEO Adrian Galliani has revealed that Andrea Pirlo was “laughing like crazy” when he spoke to the former midfielder about getting the Juventus head coach role.

Appointed to the Under-23 side, Pirlo received a swift upgrade to his station at the weekend after Juve crashed out of the Champions League on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw against Lyon.

Galliani worked with Pirlo when he was a player at San Siro and has no doubts that he will thrive in the dugout, though the former Rossoneri director seemed to hint that the 2006 World Cup winner was in a state of disbelief at being given the role.

“As soon as I heard Andrea on the phone, he was laughing like crazy,” Galliani explained in an interview with Corriere dello Sport .

“We met in Monzello on August 5 for Monza’s friendly with Juve’s Under-19 team and I told him: ‘You’ll see, Andrea, that you will have a great career. You’re destined to be a successful coach.’

“But I didn’t think it would only take him three days to get on the Juventus bench! I told him I imagined it would be in a few months. He laughed!”

Even when Pirlo was a player, it was evident to Galliani that he would one day find himself in a managerial role.

“Believe me, I already understood it then,” he said. “He was a coach when he played and the field does not tell any lies.

“If I had to define Andrea with a single word, I would say intelligent. And besides, he was a student. Andrea studied. Whether it was the opponent, the context of matches or situations within them. He’ll do very well at Juventus. I congratulated him.”

Pirlo takes over Juve with a wealth of experience at the top level of the game, having featured for the Turin side as well as Inter, AC Milan and New York City throughout his career, as well as the Italy national team, with who he made 116 appearances and scored 13 goals.

SC Villa have confirmed the signing of highly-rated player Goffin Oyirwoth Godfrey ahead of the new Ugandan Premier League (UPL) season.

Goffin is a product of Buddo SS where he won the National Championship and the East Africa Secondary Schools title before he was spotted by Express then under Kefa Kisala but last season played his football on loan at Katwe United.

The record league champions have confirmed the arrival of the player by stating: “SC Villa is proud to announce the signing of young midfielder Goffin Oyirwoth Godfrey until 2022,” the club revealed in a signed statement obtained by Goal.

“The 20-year-old has become a Jogoo at a time when the squad is taking shape and gearing up towards the start of the new season.”

Goffin started his footballing career at Super Heroes United where for seven years he honed his skills as a creative cum attacking midfielder.

By the time he joined Budo SS, his sights were already set on winning silverware and he achieved the fete when he won the Copa Coca-Cola and East African championship with Budo.

Goffin, who locally adores Steven Bengo, and Luka Modric (abroad), says he is ready to get started with the Jogoos and will wear jersey number 27.

“I’ve always wanted to be part of this great club and now that my chance has arrived, I will serve them with pride and honour,” Goffin told reporters after putting pen to paper.

“I can promise Jogoo fans that when the season starts we [the team] will make them proud, I am glad to be part of the Jogoo legacy and I am happy to have teammates who’ve welcomed me so well.”

On signing the player, coach Edward Kaziba said: “He is one player who has been on my radar for a very long time and I am happy to have signed today [Monday].

“I have been watching him for a while and I’ve been immensely impressed with his attitude and power to fight for everything. We are very excited to have him on the team, he will definitely beef up our squad and add a lot of value.”

He becomes the third signing for Villa after Meddie Kibirige and Andrew Kiwanuka.

Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has insisted that he will seek a move away from the club if he doesn't get more games next season.

Martinez graduated to the Arsenal senior squad in 2012 after making his way through the youth ranks, before immediately being sent out on loan to Oxford United.

The Argentine went on to take in further loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolves, Getafe and Reading, with opportunities at Emirates Stadium at a premium under Arsene Wenger and his successor Unai Emery.

The 27-year-old returned to Arsenal after a six-month spell at Madejski Stadium last summer, and has again played second fiddle to Bernd Leno throughout the 2019-20 campaign.

However, current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was forced to turn to Martinez when Leno picked up a serious knee injury during a defeat at Brighton on June 20.

Arsenal only lost two of their remaining 11 fixtures with the back-up shot-stopper filling in between the sticks, and he produced another fine display in an FA Cup final victory over Chelsea at the start of the month.

Martinez was overcome with emotion after the final whistle, having finally established himself as a key member of the first team after 10 years on the fringes of the action.

The Gunners are reportedly ready to reward the in-form keeper with a new contract, but he wants guarantees over his position before committing his future to the club.

Martinez is determined to wrestle the number one jersey away from Leno permanently in order to increase his chances of becoming Argentine's first choice netminder at international level, and will not hesitate to leave Emirates Stadium if he loses his place next term.

“I have shown the club that I can play for them and when I return next season I need to have more games," the Gunners star told Argentine radio station Continental.

“That is the only way I will stay at Arsenal. My target is to consolidate my place with Arsenal and to reach the Argentinian national team as number one.

“I won’t stop until I get that and if I don’t play for Arsenal, then clearly I would move on.”

Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin will sign for Villarreal from Valencia in a deal worth €13 million (£11.5m/$15m), Goal can confirm.

Although both players were present on Monday at Valencia’s training ground to undergo mandatory medical checks, neither is expected to appear in the jersey of Los Che again. Indeed, head coach Javi Gracia does not want either present when the squad takes to the field for the first pre-season training session of the summer.

Both players were placed on a ‘blacklist’ of players at the club three weeks ago ahead of the final league match of the season against Leganes, a fixture that Geoffrey Kondogbia also missed after being told he was not wanted by the side.

The deals are very advanced, with former Arsenal player Coquelin especially close to the exit door.

Meanwhile, captain and leader of the dressing room Parejo is not far behind.

Coquelin and Parejo are both expected to retain the salaries that they earn with Valencia - €2.5m and €3m per year net – while the joint value of the transfer will be only €13m.

Valencia are seeking to cut their costs, and for that reason they have elected to let go of Coquelin, who had an altercation with a club doctor earlier in the season. It is, however, for primarily for economic reasons that he is being let go, with the club seeking to almost half their wage bill over the summer.

Parejo, meanwhile, wanted to continue with the club to see out his contract, which expires in 2022, but Valencia have elected to cut short his nine-year stay with the club after listening to offers.

The 31-year-old Parejo, who has featured four times for Spain, started his career with Real Madrid, during which time he made a brief foray to the Premier League on loan with QPR. From the Bernabeu, he switched to Getafe and after two years there moved to Valencia in 2011, establishing himself as a regular in the starting XI by featuring in close to 400 matches for the club.

Coquelin, meanwhile, was on the books of Arsenal for 10 years before moving to Spain in the summer of 2018.

Liverpool have appointed Gary O’Neil as assistant manager of their Under-23 side.

The former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and West Ham midfielder will work under Barry Lewtas, having received a personal recommendation from Reds sporting director Michael Edwards.

Edwards worked with O’Neil during his time at Portsmouth, and the pair have kept in touch since. It is felt that the 37-year-old, who has been without a club since leaving Bolton last year, will bring a wealth of experience from a 19-year professional career.

O’Neil has worked as a pundit for the likes of Sky Sports and talkSPORT, but has made no secret of his desire to move into coaching having completed his UEFA Pro Licence.

Liverpool’s youngsters have already returned to their Academy in Kirkby to begin pre-season training, so O’Neil will get to work straight away, with a number of behind-closed-doors friendly matches already scheduled for later this month.

Liverpool made the decision earlier this summer to promote the highly-rated Lewtas from his role as U18s boss, where he had led the club to success in the FA Youth Cup in 2019. He replaced Neil Critchley as U23 manager, with Critchley having left the Reds in February to take over as manager of League One outfit Blackpool.

The U23 group is expected to be a highly-talented one this season. Though the likes of Neco Williams and Curtis Jones are now considered first-teamers, they are likely to feature under Lewtas and O’Neil, along with the gifted Harvey Elliott.

Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever, the young Dutch defenders, will also be involved, although Hoever in particular is attracting loan interest from the Championship.

Liverpool will also have Paul Glatzel, who captained that FA Youth Cup-winning side, available after a serious knee injury, while the likes of Jake Cain, Leighton Clarkson and Caoimhin Kelleher will all look to continue their development having trained regularly at Melwood over the past 12 months.

Speaking following his appointment, O’Neil said: "I’m really excited. I’ve been desperate to get going.

"It’s been going on for a little while and obviously with the break and the Academy having to take an even longer break than the first team, I’ve had to wait a little while, but now it’s finally come around and I’m really excited and can’t wait to get going."

Regarding working with Lewtas, he added: "Barry is great. He has got a wealth of experience of working with the boys. 

"Obviously he’s come through a lot of the age groups with the lads as well so he knows them very well. I’m getting to see them with a fresh set of eyes which can be useful as well but Barry offers a wealth of experience, while obviously I’m new into coaching.

"I think as a team me and Barry will work very well and there’s some fantastic players to work with. For me to have the opportunity to work with such a talented group of young players at such an early part of my coaching career I feel very privileged."

Cyriel Dessers has expressed his delight after scoring on his debut for Genk to help his new club open the 2020-21 Belgian First Division A campaign with a victory.

The 25-year-old Nigerian striker combined well with his compatriot Paul Onuachu to inspire Genk to a 2-1 win over Zulte Waregem on Sunday.

He was afforded a starting role in the encounter after his eye-catching performances for the Blue-White during their pre-season games and made a key impact.

Dessers scored the match-winning goal with a well-taken effort from the penalty spot after Onuachu had cancelled out Olivier Deschacht’s opener.

The forward has taken to social media to share his feelings on his first competitive match for Genk while also revealing his delight to help his new club kick off the season with a victory.

“First win and official goal for Genk and a nice comeback from the team,” Dessers tweeted.

Dessers, who started his career with the OH Leuven youth setup, joined the Luminus Arena outfit in June following his sparkling performances for Heracles Almelo.

The forward made a significant impact during his one-year stay with the Dutch club, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists across all competitions.

Dessers’ 15 strikes in the Eredivisie earned him the league’s top scorer award along with Steven Berghuis.

The centre-forward has also previously starred for Lokeren, NAC Breda and FC Utrecht, where he spent two years and played 40 league games before teaming up with Heracles Almelo in 2019.

His club performances recently caught the attention of Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr, who handed him his first call-up for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against Sierra Leone which was scheduled for March 2020.  

The striker’s Super Eagles debut has, however, been delayed after the outbreak of coronavirus forced the game to be postponed indefinitely.

Dessers will hope to build on his impressive debut showing when Genk take on his former club OH Leuven in their next league game on August 15.

As exclusively revealed by Goal on Sunday, Gor Mahia defender Joash Onyango is close to signing for Simba SC.

Goal reported the 27-year-old is among the key players who are keen to leave the Kenyan champions in this transfer window and the Wekundu wa Msimbazi have already expressed their interest to sign him.

Gor Mahia have now confirmed through their official website that Onyango has left the club and will sign for Simba on a two-year contract.

“Gor Mahia player Joash [Onyango] is close to securing a lucrative move to Tanzanian giants Simba as the club struggles to keep their star players due to the financial challenges they are facing,” the statement stated.

“Joash [Onyango] was owed a lot of money by Gor Mahia and put in a demand letter to them that went unanswered. He then served a notice as required and started negotiations with Simba who have always been interested in his services.

“Simba have moved with speed to secure his services and he is expected in Dar es Salaam to sign the deal.

“Joash will thus join former teammates Francis Kahata and Meddie Kagere who played an integral part for the Tanzanian champions in the just-concluded season.”

In an earlier interview, Onyango revealed he was ready for another challenge after his current contract with Gor Mahia expires. 

"To be honest my contract with Gor Mahia expires in December,” Onyango told Goal. “I am ripe for another challenge; Gor Mahia have not approached me regarding my contract extension.

“So if any team approaches me with intentions to get my services, I will not think twice.”

Onyango joined K'Ogalo from Western Stima in the 2017 season and has gone on to help them win back-to-back KPL titles. He was part of the team that qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup quarter-finals in the 2018/19 season.

Other players whose contracts at K'Ogalo are about to expire include Charles Momanyi, who has been linked with a move to KCB, winger Nicholas Kipkirui and Ghanaian Jackson Owusu.

Jose Mourinho hasn't lost his way, players just have "more power" now, according to Ricardo Carvalho, who says the Tottenham boss is still more than capable of getting results at the highest level.

Mourinho quickly established himself as one of the best managers in Europe when he took the top job at Porto in 2002.

He led the club to an unlikely Champions League triumph in 2004, before being snapped up by Premier League outfit Chelsea.

The Portuguese guided the Blues to back-to-back domestic crowns, while endearing himself to the English press with his suave persona and unique philosophy on the game.

Mourinho went on to enjoy hugely successful spells at Inter and Real Madrid, where he added another European Cup and thee league titles to his collection, before returning to Chelsea in 2013.

The 57-year-old managed to deliver the Premier League to Stamford Bridge for a third time, but his powers started to wane towards the end of his second spell in west London.

Chelsea sacked a cult figure after a disastrous start to the 2015-16 season which saw the team lose nine of their opening 16 top-flight fixtures.

Despite the acrimonious nature of his exit, Mourinho wasn't out of work for long, as Manchester United drafted him in to replace Louis van Gaal in the Old Trafford dugout.

The Red Devils won the Community Shield, Carabao Cup and Europa League during the ex-Chelsea manager's first season in charge, but he was eventually dismissed in December 2019 amid reports of unrest in the dressing room.

Mourinho now finds himself in charge at Tottenham, where his methods are once again being called into question, with some experts of the belief that he is now out of touch with the modern game.

Carvalho, who played under a fellow countryman at both Chelsea and Madrid, admits that his old boss needs to accept the fact that players have far more authority than they used to, but still sees him as one of the best in business on the touchline.

"Urm... no, I don't think he's lost his qualities," the former Blues defender told the Daily Mail.

"I think now the football is very different. The players have changed and they have more power. The players changed how they act and Mourinho now has to accept that's the way it is. 

"Sometimes, the problem comes from the way in which the players don't accept who he is - he is like that because he wants to achieve and wants to win trophies. 

"You have to accept the way Mourinho works. So, I think he knows his own way and he has been successful every year. I think it's more a question of time in the beginning... and then he will get results."

13-time Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions AFC Leopards have part ways with forward Vincent Oburu.

The 22-year-old was promoted to the senior team after starring for the then Boniface Ambani-led Cubs. Goal understands the striker is in search of greener pastures abroad and it is the reason why he refused to extend his stay at the club.

"AFC Leopards can confirm Vincent Oburu will depart the club after three years of service," the club confirmed via their official website.

"The forward’s time with the club ended after he opted not to extend his new contract which was offered to him in February.  

"Everyone at AFC Leopards Sports Club would like to thank Oburu for his service and wish him all the best in his future career."

The youngster's exit will further destabilize Ingwe's striking front considering top striker Elvis Rupia, who is a free agent, is reluctant in extending his stay as he is also weighing his options.

Derrick Otanga, Musa Masika and Peter Thiong’o are the players Ingwe have set their eyes on and have reportedly held individual talks with them.

Otanga, who was among 12 players to leave Wazito recently, is seen as a promising goalscorer who will be key for the team in the next campaign.

He made his name during the 2018/19 season as he scored 13 goals for the now relegated Sony Sugar.

His exploits for the Sugar Millers saw him land a lucrative deal with Wazito but his season at the club was not as fruitful as expected.

With Wazito struggling for stability and results, Otanga did not find his goalscoring touch and the exit from the Nairobi club has now made AFC Leopards add him to their wishlist.

Masika is seen as another good option for the striking department and chairman Dan Shikanda has reportedly vowed to ensure he is signed.

Masika, 19, is currently with Wazito.

Kakamega Homeboyz’ Thiong’o, whose contract Goal understands has ended, is another player the 1998 league champions want to bring on board.

Thiong’o has been one of the outstanding wingers in the KPL and that is why Ingwe have prioritised his signing. He has also reportedly attracted interest from Wazito and AFC Leopards' traditional rivals Gor Mahia.

Liverpool’s Premier League-winning team of 2019-20 was not as good as the one that finished as runners-up in the previous campaign, according to Anfield legend John Barnes.

Jurgen Klopp’s men set a string of records en route to breaking their 30-year wait for the English league championship, picking up 99 points and finishing 18 marks clear of the pack.

A year previous, though, they finished second to Manchester City, claiming 97 points along the way while also winning the Champions League, overcoming Tottenham in the final.

Barnes has argued that the latter team was the better but simply fell short against a special rival.

“I was delighted with them last year – 97 points and finishing second, winning the Champions League…” he told talkSPORT.

“In fact, I think they were probably better last year, but Man City were just incredible.

“They continued that consistency this year in what they did, so I look at it as a two-year victory, if you like – winning the Champions League and finishing second by a point in the league and then winning the Premier League this season, it was an incredible two years.

“Jurgen Klopp has brought a real level of consistency and determination and humility to the team.

“People are now saying ‘can they do it again next year’, but what we can do next year is we can be as competitive as we were this year.

“Obviously teams will improve to make it harder, but I don’t think we’ll be any less consistent next year.”

Meanwhile, Barnes, who turned out for the Reds from 1987-97, says that the 2018-19 campaign brought the club’s most remarkable performance ever – one that surpasses even their comeback from 3-0 in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan.

“You can go back to when Liverpool won the European Cup in the old days in Rome, and of course there was Istanbul and you think that will never be surpassed,” he said.

“But then there was the 4-0 at home to Barcelona, as much as it was in the semi-final and wasn’t to win the Champions League, that for me tops anything they’ve done in the past – including Istanbul.

“To beat Barcelona when you had to beat them 4-0 at home without Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah while they had all their players, including Lionel Messi, and for us to come back… that’s why it’s my favourite.

“Again, it shows what Jurgen Klopp has brought to Liverpool, a determination and belief to the team – to demand that kind of performance from the team regardless of who is playing, it shows what Klopp has done.”

Simba SC have come out to clarify their midfielder Clatous Chama is not for sale at any price.

The statement by the club comes just a day after rumours went round in Tanzania that Yanga are planning to sign the Zambian midfielder, so as to ‘level the scores’ after Simba signed their own Bernard Morrison on Sunday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi unveiled the Ghanaian player after he agreed to pen a two-year contract and leave the Jangwani Street-based giants.

Simba Information Officer Haji Manara has now told Yanga that Chama, who was recently crowned the MVP of the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League and midfielder of the year is contracted at the club until July 2021, and will not be sold.

“We have seen rumours going round that Chama is leaving Simba for Yanga, I want to state it clearly we are not aware of such rumours and that Chama is a player contracted to Simba,” Manara said on his official social media pages.

“Simba is not ready to sell Chama, because the coach has already plans for him in the new season, Yanga should stop crying and focus elsewhere, they can sign players from other teams, I know they want to sign him as revenge on us signing [Morrison] but it will not happen.”

Simba are now close to signing defender Joash Onyango after his club Gor Mahia confirmed they had released him on Monday.

The Kenyan champions confirmed in a statement: “Gor Mahia player Joash [Onyango] is close to securing a lucrative move to Tanzanian giants Simba as the club struggles to keep their star players due to the financial challenges they are facing.

“[Onyango] was owed a lot of money by Gor Mahia and put in a demand letter to them that went unanswered. He then served a notice as required and started negotiations with Simba who have always been interested in his services.

“Simba have moved with speed to secure his services and he is expected in Dar es Salaam to sign the deal.

“Joash will thus join former teammates Francis Kahata and Meddie Kagere who played an integral part for the Tanzanian champions in the just-concluded season.”

Onyango joined K'Ogalo from Western Stima in the 2017 season and has gone on to help them win back-to-back KPL titles. He was part of the team that qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup quarter-finals in the 2018/19 season.

Bruno Fernandes will "run out of steam" if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn't make any signings, according to Paul Parker, who has urged Manchester United to spend money on a new midfielder and striker.

United picked up more points in the Premier League than any other side in the second half of the 2019-20 campaign following Fernandes' arrival from Sporting CP.

The Red Devils forked out €55 million (£50m/$65m) to bring in the Portuguese, which many feel he has repaid in his first 20 appearances for the club.

Fernandes already has ten goals and eight assists to his name in a United shirt, and he has led by example in the middle of the park to help his new team-mates raise their own games over the past seven months.

The Manchester outfit secured third place and Champions League qualification with the 25-year-old pulling the strings in midfield, with a first trophy since 2017 also still up for grabs in the form of the Europa League.

Solskjaer's men did, however, lose a bit of momentum in the final stretch of their domestic season as fatigue crept in, which ultimately led to a painful FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.

Parker says the Norwegian will have to add to his squad in order to avoid a similar scenario next term, having seen Fernandes take on far too much responsibility since the return from lockdown.

The ex-United defender would like to see at least two new players make their way to Old Trafford in the coming weeks, as he told talkSPORT: "I think they’re capable of [winning the Europa League] with the way they’ve played since lockdown.

“You’d have to say they won the lockdown league with the points they won and they must be confident. It’s probably the most confident a United team has been since 2013.

“But they need signings. They can’t go as they are, there’s no way they can do that.

“They’ve done great this season, but there’s no way they can start next season expecting these same players to go and do the same again.

“Fernandes will run out of steam early because he takes so much on himself, he wants to be on the ball, he tracks people back, they’ll be too dependent on him for every game if they carry on as they are.

“Everyone is looking at [Paul] Pogba now, he’s had his little stint back in the starting line-up, but there’s still too many issues about him defensively.

“They need cover in midfield and I still believe they need a centre-forward, I really, really do.”

The two positive coronavirus cases reported in the Atletico Madrid camp have both been returned by players, Goal can confirm, as the club try to contain the outbreak and exit a state of Champions League limbo.

News broke on Sunday that two members of the party set to travel to the Champions League quarter-finals in Portugal had tested positive for the virus, but there was no further indication whether those affected were members of the playing or backroom staff.

Goal has learned that two members of Diego Simeone’s squad, however, are responsible for the two positive tests and, as such, will not travel to Portugal or take part in the remainder of the competition.

The players are in a stable condition and are observing isolation protocols in their own homes. 

In response to the two positive tests, a fresh round of testing has been activated on Atleti’s first team and members of staff who have travelled, while there are also checks being made on those who have come into close contact with the players.

Until the results of the latest tests have become clear, Atleti are in a state of limbo. When the outcome is clear, UEFA will advise them on how to proceed for Thursday's scheduled clash against RB Leipzig.

UEFA’s medical protocol indicates that as long as there are 13 available players from the A list, the match will take place, unless quarantine is required for the rest of the squad, although it is the Portuguese government that will have the final say.

Meanwhile, Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, who is currently in Germany with his side as they seek to win the Europa League, has taken to social media to defend Thomas Lemar after the Atleti attacker was subject to abuse on the platform.

“I see messages wishing that it’s Thomas Lemar who has covid. You really are scoundrels. Show a little respect. This is human life we are talking about, it’s not a joke,” the 21-year-old former Bordeaux man wrote on his Twitter account.

Spain has been one of the European countries most heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 360,000 people testing positive for Covid-19, while more than 28,500 have died.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Anthony Martial is "at the best level in his career" and that "there's more to come" from the improving Manchester United striker.

Martial is currently enjoying his best season yet in a United shirt, having hit 23 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions.

The 24-year-old has taken up the mantle as the Red Devils' first-choice centre-forward since Romelu Lukaku's move to Inter last summer, and is finally beginning to fulfil his potential after a frustrating couple of years under Jose Mourinho.

Solskjaer has been rewarded for trusting the Frenchman to lead the line, especially since the club's return from lockdown in June, with the forward now consistently delivering the goods in the final third alongside Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.

Martial came off the bench to score the winner in United's last outing against LASK in the second leg of their last 16 Europa League tie, which set up a meeting with Copenhagen on Monday.

Ahead of that encounter in Germany, Solskjaer has talked up a prized asset's development over the past 12 months, while predicting that he will become an even better player in the coming years.

“Anthony has made huge strides this season in many aspects of his game," the Red Devils head coach told a press conference.

“I like him scoring, being in between the posts, call it the simple goals. We know he can do the worldies, like he has a few times.

“He’s in the gym a lot and working on his strength and fitness with the staff.

“He’s physically at the best level in his career and I’m just looking forward to seeing him improve even more. There’s more to come from Anthony, definitely."

Another man who has enjoyed a resurgence in recent times is Paul Pogba, who has managed to rediscover his form since returning from a lengthy injury lay off after the coronavirus-enforced break in the campaign.

Questions had been asked of the midfielder's future amid persistent links with Real Madrid, but Solskjaer expects him to remain at Old Trafford beyond the expiration of his existing contract in 2021.

“He has worked really hard, he is happy and he is playing well," the Norwegian said of the World Cup winner. "We are going to see the best of Paul in the next couple of seasons, I’m sure."

Creative midfielder Allan Okello has termed the year as 'terrible' for everyone owing to the impact brought about by Covid-19.

The Uganda Cranes midfielder joined Algeria's top-tier side Paradou AC in January after his impressive displays with Ugandan Premier League side KCCA FC. However, the pandemic led to the suspension of the top-tier matches to cub the spread of the virus.

"It has been a terrible year for everyone, and to me, it has been the worst seven months because of this lockdown," Okello told KCCA TV.

"It has been very terrible, my lockdown has been hell, I miss my family, friends, and everyone who used to be close to me. I have been alone on this side and bored and lonely. But I have nothing to do, I have to go through It. I know with time, we are going to cope with everything."

The 20-year-old has been training alone to ensure he remains fit and ready once football resumes in North Africa.

"At this moment it’s all about personal training and working on our weaknesses, so we have a lot of different routines given to us by our coaches," Okello continued.

"That is all you have to go through in this moment to keep us in shape, keep physically and mentally fit."

The youngster states playing abroad was one of his targets, but there is much to be achieved. 

"Like any other player in the world, we all have different ambitions at the moment, no matter where you reach regardless of where you are. 

"At KCCA I had an ambition of getting where I am today, and where I am, I have another bigger ambition of getting much better than where I am today.

"But I need to keep on working hard. Within a few years, I have much bigger ambitions of getting much more forward to a better place than here but at the moment I am happy here."  

Okello has been steadily rising at the club and international level. He was part of the KCCA team that won the league in the 29018/19 season before Paradou came calling.

Manchester United’s hopes of signing Jadon Sancho have diminished after the England winger was named in the squad that will travel for Borussia Dortmund’s pre-season training camp.

The Old Trafford club have pursued the forward for several months and appeared to be closing in on a deal last week, but they have failed to meet BVB’s deadline for getting the signing over the line.

The Bundesliga runners-up had wanted the transfer completed before their pre-season training camp but they have named Sancho in the group that travelled to Switzerland on Monday, suggesting that it has become much more complicated for United to complete a deal that was expected to be valued around the €120 million (£108m/$141m) mark.

Hopes had briefly flickered over the weekend that it would be completed as Sancho was spotted in London, but Dortmund quickly extinguished that.

"It's common and fine for players to go home before a training camp if they're not risky," Dortmund's press spokesman Sascha Fligge said.

"The same goes for Jadon. From our point of view, the pictures that have been shown to us do not violate the current Coronavirus Protection Ordinance or hygiene regulations."

The 20-year-old has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Red Devils and wants a switch to Old Trafford, but BVB chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke insisted on Wednesday that there had been no talks between the two clubs.

"So far, there has been no contact between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United in terms of Sancho," he told Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"Also not directly or through alleged intermediaries."

Sancho, who joined the Bundesliga outfit from Manchester City in 2017, is coming off the back of a career-best season with Dortmund, where he scored 20 goals and assisted 20 more in all competitions, making him one of the most sought after commodities in the market this summer.

The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent financial uncertainty, however, has complicated his exit, with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool unwilling to stump up the kind of fee that Dortmund are demanding for him to depart the club, leaving United the sole team chasing him.

Meanwhile, fellow young Englishman Jude Bellingham has also travelled to Switzerland after arriving from Birmingham City earlier this summer.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he needs to add “one or two” more players to complete his transfer business for next season.

Mosimane has already signed midfielder George Maluleka from Kaizer Chiefs as well as forward Lesedi Kapinga from Black Leopards.

The Bidvest Wits trio of midfielders Gift Motupa and Haashim Domingo, as well as goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, is on their way to Chloorkop and the Downs coach appears satisfied with his acquisitions and says he just needs some little additions.

“We have already set our targets and we know who we want and where they are going to help us,” said Mosimane as per Phakaaathi.

“We are done with the transfers. We just need to get one or two players … but the rest of the people we are already done with. I know who I want to sign in December [in any season], so we don’t buy because a player is on top form this season.”

Mosimane has also previously expressed interest to lure more players from South America, saying he has already identified potential signings.

The coming in of three midfielders Maluleka, Motupa and Domingo is expected to add more depth in the middle of the park for Sundowns.

If Goss completes a move to Chloorkop, it is almost certain that one goalkeeper between Kennedy Mweene and Reyaad Pieterse would be sacrificed.

Mosimane has previously stated that a busy schedule of participating in the Caf Champions League and domestic competitions has been the reason why he signs a number of players who play in the same position.

“You will not manage to juggle the team if you have players who play one position,” Mosimane said.

“We like players who can play in different positions. Rivaldo Coetzee can play as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder."

Mosa Lebusa is a centre-back and can play as a left-back. Lyle Lakay is a left-back and a left winger.

“Themba Zwane always plays on the left but against Wits, Zwane was a striker. Lebohang Maboe sometimes plays as a striker and we are now preparing him to play at right-back. Thapelo Morena is a right-back, right-winger and a striker.”

With Oupa Manyisa having already left, it would be interesting to see which other midfielders will be released to create space for the incoming players.